A similar effect was observed in cultured colon cancer cells, where the inhibition of mitochondrial oxygen consumption was pronounced in HMGB1-sensitive SW480 cells and in partly HMGB1-resistant HCT116 cells (Fig. 4d,e), whereas mitochondrial respiration of HMGB1-resistant HT29 cells was only slightly reduced by HMGB1 (Fig. 4f). The gene discussed is HMGB1; the disease is malignant colon neoplasm.